The grass is greener

I've mowed lawns since I was 8. I used to go with my dad and brother out to his office and help mow and trim the lawn. Since then I've mowed lawns for the following people: parents, Grandma Lamb, Grandpa Meibos, landlord, Mother-In-Law, Grandfather-in-Law.

I have very particular methods when it comes to mowing lawns, so I'd like to share them.

Low cut lawns might look better, but they don't feel better. When you lay a blanket on the lawn, you want some cushion under your blanket so you can lay there for a while and enjoy whatever you are laying on the lawn for - a cool evening, watching clouds, throwing a ball up in the air to yourself until you miss it and give yourself a black eye.

Trim before you mow, and trim every time you mow if you don't want the lawn to look goofy. I did not say edge - you should only edge your lawn once a month. Edging is cutting a straight edge along the sidewalks. It only has to look that good once a month, like before you host a baby shower or something like that.

Never cut the grass in the same pattern two weeks in a row. If you're too lazy to mix it up, you deserve to have a crappy looking lawn. It may just be the placebo affect, but I think lawns look better and grow better when they are cut in a different direction each week.

Raise the mower up to just below the top notch. Why? Three reasons. First, long grass feels better all around. Second, if you don't catch the clippings every week, long grass will provide a better area to catch the clippings and create a better thatch. Thatch will help retain water when you water, so the grass will actually grow greener and stay looking better. Third, if something comes up and you can't mow, longer grass doesn't look uncut as soon as short grass... so you can be lazy like you want to be when you don't feel like doing the job.